Sep, 15, 2014 Joe Henhawk Tips No Comments.

Indoor Air Quality Concerns and the Importance of Having Clean Air DuctsThere is a growing body of scientific evidence, which suggests that the air within homes, offices and other buildings may be more polluted than the air outside. For many people, the health risks of indoor pollution can be greater than outdoors. This is especially true for the demographic, which spends a bigger portion of their time indoors, including children, the elderly or the chronically ill.

As such, it is important to note what causes indoor pollution. After all, you can do a lot of things to improve the quality of air indoors that you can’t just as easily outside.

Pollutant Sources

A lot of factors contribute to indoor air pollution:

1. Combustible materials, including: coal, gas, kerosene, oil, wood and tobacco products;

2. Deteriorating building materials and home furnishings: cabinetry or anything made of wood, wet carpets and insulation containing asbestos;

3. Chemicals: household maintenance and cleaning products;

4. Central heating and cooling systems, humidification devices; and

5. Outdoor air pollution

It is important to know how much pollution is emitted by one single source and how harmful those emissions are. Some pollutants can remain in the air even after long periods of time.

Outdoor air enters homes in different ways:

1. When outdoor air flows indoors through openings or cracks in floors, walls, ceilings or around doors and windows, it’s called infiltration.

2. When the air moves through opened doors and windows, it’s called natural ventilation.

3. Air handling systems like fans or ducts in bathrooms and kitchens are called mechanical ventilation devices.

The first two are caused by differences in temperature and wind. When the rate at which outdoor air replaces indoor air, otherwise known as exchange rate, the pollutant levels indoor can increase.

Being able to identify these pollutants or developing health problems can become key indicators of indoor air pollution. In some cases, having your air ducts cleaned can have a significant impact on the health of people living at home.

Consider having your air ducts cleaned if you see a substantial amount of mold, if the ducts are infested with rats and insects, and when the ducts are clogged with dust and other particles. If you think duct cleaning is what your home needs but you are not sure if you can do it yourself, consult a professional. You can call the company that installed your heating and cooling devices. You can also call duct cleaning service providers and get their informed opinion on the service that you need.